Explain the eye changes associated with aging and their impact on vision. In general when a person ages all tissues and organs age with them, including the eye. Depending on the patient’s health history, preventions and other risk factors, the health of the human eye will inevitably decline in one way or another. One of the first things people notice declining as they age is their eye sight. A reduced visual acuity can be related to changes in the nervous system and eye supporting structures. Another change patients may notice is a bluish, white ring on the outer edge of the cornea, it is called arcus senilis. Arcus senelis are fat deposits and they will not obstruct the patient’s vison or harm them in any way. Structures in the eye will change; the cornea will begin to flatten, causing an astigmatism and blurred vision. The sclera and the lens will develop a yellow tinged color related to fatty …show more content…
The nurse should ask the patient if they are taking any MAOI’s and teach the patient to protect their eyes with sunglasses (indoors and outdoors). Carteolol (cartrol) is a beta-adrenergic blocker; its main purpose is to block beta-adrenergic receptors in the eye and lessen the aqueous humor produced by the ciliary bodies. The nurse should ask the patient if they have COPD/ asthma, monitor pulse if they are taking another beta-blocker and to warn diabetics to check their blood glucose regularly (Ignatavicius, 2013, p.